A Santa Paula ranch once owned by actor Steve McQueen and his third wife, Barbara Minty, has become affordable (for some), as the current owners have dropped their asking price to $800K. That’s down from the original price of $1,950,000.
Originally built in 1892, the 3,000 square foot house has period detailing and antique stained glass windows, but has been updated with commercial-grade kitchen fixtures and appliances. The ranch includes three acres of Syrah vineyards, fruit trees, a three-acre equestrian facility and the airplane hangar where McQueen kept his prestigious car collection. The 4,200-square-foot airplane hangar could hold up to 50 cars, according to estimates.
The King of Cool and Ms. Minty moved into the Santa Paula, CA, home in 1979 and married in the living room of the Victorian home in 1980. McQueen apparently found a measure of peace in Santa Paula.The locals didn’t seem to think it was such a big deal that a legendary movie star was living in their midst.
McQueen had been one of the world’s highest-paid actors in the 1960s, known for such films as Bullitt, The Great Escape and The Cincinnati Kid.
Steve McQueen had largely turned away from Hollywood when he settled in the town, about 75 miles northwest of Los Angeles. He was drawn there, according to biographers, by the town’s reputation as the vintage-plane capital of America. He purchased two vintage Stearman biplanes and persuaded a Santa Paula local to become his flight instructor.
More information is available through the online listing. However, if you do buy the property, you have to invite us to the housewarming.